Young Catholics revel in greeting pope

TORONTO (AP)  Young Roman Catholics have flocked from 170 nations to pray with their frail pope  and a few even got to lunch with him Friday.

But their devotion to the pontiff hasn't ended division on other matters, such as the role of women in the church and waning interest in religion.

The 200,000 World Youth Day pilgrims, ranging in age from mid-teens to mid-30s, are among the church's most fervent adherents  to the point of preparing for an all-night vigil Saturday on the fields where Pope John Paul II will celebrate a public Mass on Sunday.

On Friday night, pilgrims by the tens of thousands jammed several blocks of one of Toronto's broadest avenues to watch 40 actors participate in a Way of the Cross procession, re-enacting the events leading to the crucifixion of Christ. The 13-foot cross used in the ceremony had traveled through 350 communities across Canada over the past 15 months.

John Paul took a day off Friday, remaining at his Strawberry Island retreat north of Toronto to have lunch with 14 pilgrims who were thrilled by the experience.

"It is my greatest honor in my whole life," said Shirley Tso, a 26-year-old Catholic convert from Hong Kong. "After I became Catholic, I never dreamed I would have lunch with the pope."

Interviews with other pilgrims revealed concern about the church's future, with most speaking of dwindling attendance at weekly Mass, especially among the young.

Samantha Smitiuch, 14, of Brantford, Ontario, said her friends found Mass boring. "They need to involve us young people more," she said. "They need to put it into terms that teenagers can understand."

Laura Muldarry, a 31-year-old civil servant from Mullingar, Ireland, said also worried about the declining numbers of churchgoing Catholics.

"I'd like to feel the faith can continue, but I wonder if it will be as strong," she said.

Muldarry said the church would benefit from new ideas, including the possible ordination of women as priests.

"Women have a lot to offer," she said. "Why should they not have the same chance as men?"

Many other young pilgrims opposed female priests.

"(Women) are the ones who have to teach the children," said Monica Wolak, 19, a Polish-born resident of Cologne, Germany.